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Bootle Stories in The Strand

A shop in The Strand shopping centre will be transformed to chart Bootle’s past and look to the town’s future.The former Blue Inc unit in the Sefton Council owned shopping centre will become a pop-up history event as well as hosting information about the proposed Bootle Town Hall Heritage and Cultural Centre consultation.The unit will be open during the school half term holidays (October 23-28) and November 6-11 from 10am-4pm. There will be a range of activities in the unit, including exhibitions and objects, relating to local history.Visitors will be able to take part in a consultation about the town as Sefton Council explores opportunities to create a cultural and heritage facility within Bootle Town Hall complex of Grade II listed buildings.In October 2016, Sefton Council published the Bootle Town Centre Investment Framework – a high level strategic document which looked to harness Bootle’s current assets and help reshape the town into a desirable residential, educational and business location.Feedback gained from the Investment Framework highlighted the Bootle Town Hall complex as a great regeneration opportunity with the desire for increased cultural activity a key theme. Now a consultation and engagement exercise is underway looking at the potential to create a new cultural and heritage facility in the former Bootle Free Library and Museum within the town hall complex. Other civic functions within the town hall would still be maintained.

Cllr Ian Maher, Sefton Council’s Labour leader, said: “The event in the Strand will give people a chance to look back at Bootle’s history and also give them a chance to get involved in the consultation which looks to the future.“By transforming Bootle Town Hall into a new home of arts and culture, we believe this would be a major statement of the Council’s ambition for the town.“Potentially this refreshed physical space will be supported by a learning and skills infrastructure, reaching out to the local community and developing materials that can be used in local schools, adult education centres and beyond. “We believe this project will help ensure the town hall remains the civic focus of Bootle and also deliver a new cultural offer that will be sustainable and manageable over the long term.“Please pop down to The Strand in the coming weeks and take a look at the unit and give us your views about the amazing town hall complex.”

To get involved in the consultation visit sefton.gov.uk and click on the ‘take part in a consultation’ tab.